Printing method, poratable communication terminal and portable printer

ABSTRACT

A cellular phone is connected to a portable printer which uses an instant print film through connectors, and the printer prints an image according to image data stored in the cellular phone. The cellular phone can display the image to be printed on its LCD. The user can input information for the printing with push buttons of the cellular phone, and display the information on the LCD. Thus, the portable printer does not need an LCD and push buttons, and therefore the printer is small, light and inexpensive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a printing method, aportable communication terminal and a portable printer. The presentinvention relates more particularly to a portable communication terminalsuch as a cellular phone, a portable printer connected to the portablecommunication terminal, and a printing method in which image data storedin the portable communication terminal is outputted to the portableprinter and the printer prints an image according to the image data.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Recently, mobile communication technology using cellular phones,etc. has been developed, and the cellular phones have had multiplefunctions. They have been capable of inputting and outputting imagedata.

[0005] However, a cellular phone can not display an image of highquality since its liquid crystal display is small and the number ofpixels are small, and it can not store the image data due to its smallstorage capacity and poor performance. In addition, when the liquidcrystal display is displaying an image, the other functions can not beused.

[0006] If a portable printer can print the image when the cellular phonereceives the image data, the printed image of high quality can be lookedat soon and the image data can be stored. It is convenient for the user.

[0007] If the portable printer has a liquid crystal display thatdisplays print information at color adjustment, editing, etc., theportable printer can not be small, light and inexpensive.

[0008] If the portable printer has push buttons and the user operatespush buttons of the cellular phone and the push buttons of the printer,the operation is troublesome and the printer can not be small, light andinexpensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention has been developed in view of theabove-described circumstances, and has as its object the provision of aportable communication terminal, a small, light and inexpensive portableprinter, and a printing method in which the printer prints an imageaccording to image data received by the portable communication terminaland the operation is easy.

[0010] To achieve the above-described object, the present invention isdirected to a printing method in which a portable communication terminalis connected to a printer, and image data of an image stored in theportable communication terminal is outputted to the printer, whichprints the image, wherein: a displaying device of the portablecommunication terminal displays the image; and the displaying devicedisplays print information for printing the image to also work as adisplaying device of the printer when the print information is inputted.Thus, the printer does not need the displaying device for displaying theprint information, and therefore the printer is small, light andinexpensive.

[0011] The image data is obtained from another apparatus or obtained bya camera function of the portable communication terminal. The image datais, for example, an attachment to an e-mail received on the Internet,and it may be captured by the camera function of the portablecommunication terminal.

[0012] A control device of the portable communication terminal alsoworks as a control device for inputting the print information. Thus, theprinter does not need the control device for inputting the printinformation, and the printer is small, light and inexpensive. Inaddition, the operation is easy since the user operates only the controldevice of the portable communication terminal.

[0013] The image data stored in the portable communication terminal andthe print information inputted by the control device are outputted tothe printer.

[0014] The print information includes at least one of the number ofprints, zooming information, trimming information, brightnessinformation, chromaticity information and print start.

[0015] To achieve the above-described object, the present invention isdirected to a portable communication terminal, comprising: acommunicating device that transmits and receives image data of an image;a storage device that temporarily stores the image data received by thecommunicating device; a displaying device that displays the image; adisplay controlling device that displays print information for printingthe image on the displaying device; a first connecting device that isconnected to a printer; and an outputting device that outputs the imagedata to the printer through the first connecting device.

[0016] The portable communication terminal further comprises a controldevice that can input the print information, and the display controllingdevice displays print information on the displaying device according tothe operation of the control device.

[0017] The outputting device outputs the image data stored in thestorage device and the print information. To achieve the above-describedobject, the present invention is directed to a portable printer,comprising: a second connecting device that is connected to the firstconnecting device; and a printing device that prints the image on aprint medium according to the image data and the print image outputtedfrom the outputting device of the portable communication terminalthrough the first connecting device and the second connecting device.The print medium is an instant print film, and the printing devicecomprises a light-emission head that exposes the instant print filmaccording to the print information and a spread device that spreadsdeveloper in the instant print film exposed by the light-emission head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The nature of this invention, as well as other objects andadvantages thereof, will be explained in the following with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designatethe same or similar parts throughout the figures and wherein:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a system to which the presentinvention is applied;

[0020]FIG. 2 is a front view of a cellular phone in FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cellularphone is lengthwise connected to a portable printer;

[0022]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cellularphone is lengthwise connected to a portable printer;

[0023]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cellularphone is widthwise connected to a portable printer;

[0024]FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state in which the cellular phoneis widthwise connected to a portable printer;

[0025]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cellularphone is widthwise connected to the portable printer;

[0026]FIG. 8 is an appearance view of a cellular phone with twodisplaying parts;

[0027]FIG. 9 is an appearance view of another cellular phone with twodisplaying parts;

[0028]FIG. 10 is a section of the portable printer;

[0029]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an instant print film used by theportable printer;

[0030]FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the structure of theportable printer;

[0031]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a print part of the portableprinter;

[0032]FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing the structure of a spreadmechanism of the portable printer;

[0033]FIG. 15 is a section of a light-emission head of the portableprinter;

[0034]FIG. 16 is a section of another light-emission head that may beused in the portable printer;

[0035]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a print part with a scan head;

[0036]FIG. 18 is a section of the scan head;

[0037]FIG. 19 is a section of an essential part of the spread mechanismof the portable printer;

[0038]FIG. 20 is a plan of spread rollers of the portable printer;

[0039]FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing the inner structure of thecellular phone;

[0040]FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the inner structure of theportable printer;

[0041]FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing the operation of the cellular phoneat the printing;

[0042] FIGS. 24(A), 24(B), 24(C), 24(D) and 24(E) are diagrams showingscreens displayed on an LCD of the cellular phone at the printing;

[0043]FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the operation of the cellular phoneat the printing;

[0044] FIGS. 26(A) and 26(B) are diagrams showing a screen displayed onthe LCD of the cellular phone at the printing and a print on the instantprint film, respectively;

[0045]FIG. 27 is an appearance view of another cellular phone;

[0046]FIG. 28 is an appearance view of a portable printer that opticallyprints a screen displayed on an LCD of the cellular phone;

[0047]FIG. 29 is a side view showing the state in which a cover of thecellular phone is inserted in the portable printer;

[0048]FIG. 30 is a section showing the state in which the cover of thecellular phone is inserted in the portable printer and a bellows iscollapsed;

[0049]FIG. 31 is a section showing the state in which the cover of thecellular phone is inserted in the portable printer and the bellows isextended;

[0050] FIGS. 32(A) and 32(B) are diagrams showing reflectors of theportable printer; and

[0051]FIG. 33 is a section showing another portable printer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0052] Hereunder the preferred embodiment of the present invention isexplained in detail according to the accompanying drawings.

[0053]FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a system to which the presentinvention is applied. Image data captured by a digital camera 10 orimage or character data stored in a server 12 is transmitted to acellular phone 14 by wire or wireless.

[0054] The cellular phone 14 communicates with a cellular phone 100 (aportable communication terminal) through public lines 16, and transmitsthe image data or the character data to the cellular phone 100.

[0055] In case the cellular phone 14 has a camera function, image datacaptured by the cellular phone 14 can be transmitted to the cellularphone 100. Also, character data inputted with the cellular phone 14 canbe transmitted to the cellular phone 100.

[0056] The cellular phone 100 is connected to a portable printer 200through a communication cable 18, or they can be connected by a wirelesscommunication protocol (for example, Bluetooth for short-distancelow-electricity-consumption communication), or they can be directlyconnected to each other.

[0057]FIG. 2 is a front view of the cellular phone 100 in FIG. 1. Anantenna 101 for communicating with the public lines by wireless isprovided on the top of the cellular phone 100; and a receiver 102 thatoutputs sound, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 103 that displayscommunication information, an image, characters and so on, push buttons104 that designates a telephone number, characters and an image, and atransmitter 105 that inputs sound are provided on the front of thecellular phone 100; and a connector 106 for communicating with anoutside apparatus is provided on the bottom of the cellular phone 100.

[0058] The portable printer 200 is a light pocket-sized printer, and itworks on a battery. It does not have a display part, a control part,etc. to make it simple and inexpensive. It uses an instant print film232, and the length and width of a print are 2 to 10 cm.

[0059] The image data, character data or the like is transmitted fromthe cellular phone 100 to the portable printer 200 according to theoperation of the cellular phone 100, and the portable printer 200 printsthe image or characters on the instant print film 232.

[0060]FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are appearance views showing connections ofthe cellular phone 100 to various portable printers.

[0061] In FIGS. 3 and 4, the cellular phone 100 is lengthwise connectedto the portable printer 200 and a portable printer 300, respectively. InFIG. 3, the connector 106 provided on the bottom of the cellular phone100 is directly connected to a connector 201 provided on a side,opposite from a film ejecting side, of the portable printer 200.

[0062] In FIG. 4, the bottom part of the cellular phone 100 is insertedinto a recess 301 of the portable printer 300, and the connector 106provided on the bottom of the cellular phone 100 is directly connectedto a connector 302 provided on the bottom of the recess 301.

[0063] In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the cellular phone 100 is widthwiseconnected to a portable printer 310 and 320. In FIG. 5, the cellularphone 100 is inserted into a recess 311 of the portable printer 310, andthe connector 106 provided on the bottom of the cellular phone 100 isdirectly connected to a connector 312 provided on the bottom of therecess 311.

[0064] In FIGS. 6 and 7, a battery 108 is detached from a batteryattaching part 107 of the cellular phone 100, and a swell 321 (in thesame shape as the battery 108) of the portable printer 320 is attachedto the battery attaching part 107. The battery 108 is a battery packthat forms a part of the exterior of the cellular phone 100, and theswell 321 of the portable printer 320 has the same coupling part (notshown) as the battery 108 has, and the coupling part couples thecellular phone 100 and the portable printer 320.

[0065] A connector 109 is arranged in the battery attaching part 107,and the battery of the portable printer 320 is included in the swell321, and a connector 322 is provided on the swell 321. The connector 322is directly connected to the connector 109 of the cellular phone, andthe power is supplied from the battery to the cellular phone.

[0066] When the cellular phone 100 and the portable printers aredirectly connected as shown in FIGS. 3-7, the user can hold both of themwith one hand and operate the cellular phone 100 with the other hand.They may be mechanically connected in other ways.

[0067] When they are connected, the battery of the portable printer maybe used as the main power source, and it may be used as the backup powersource, and it may be used to charge the battery of the cellular phone.If the battery of the portable printer can be detached from the printer,it can be used when the battery of the cellular phone is dead.

[0068]FIGS. 8 and 9 are appearance views of cellular phones with twodisplaying parts. In FIG. 8, a first LCD 331 is provided on the body ofa cellular phone 330, and a second LCD 332 is provided on the innersurface of a lid 333 for a part of a control part.

[0069] The first LCD 331 mainly displays communication information andcharacters, and it is, for example, a black-and-white liquid crystaldisplay with a small number of pixels. The second LCD 332 mainlydisplays an image, and it is, for example, a color liquid crystaldisplay with a large number of pixels.

[0070] The first LCD 331 and the second LCD 332 are separatelycontrolled. When the image is not needed, only the first LCD 331operates to save electricity. When the characters and the image are bothneeded, they are easy to see since they are not displayed on one LCD.Also, the first LCD 331 is less expensive than the second LCD 332.

[0071]FIG. 9 shows a folding cellular phone 340 in which a displayingpart 341 is jointed with a control part 342 through a hinge. Thedisplaying part 341 has a first LCD 343 that mainly displays charactersand a second LCD 344 that mainly displays an image. The displaying part341 also has an imaging part 345. The imaging part 345 captures a movingimage when the cellular phone 340 is used as a Video phone, and itcaptures a still image when the cellular phone 340 is used as anelectronic camera.

[0072]FIG. 10 is an enlarged section of the portable printer 200. Spreadrollers 210, a light-emission head 220, a film pack compartment 203 thatstores a film pack 230, and so on are provided in a casing 202 of theportable printer 200. A lid 240 is provided on the casing 202 through ahinge 204 at the bottom of the casing 202. The part denoted by thereference numeral 205 contains a battery chamber, a circuit board and soon. The reference numeral 207 shows an ejection slot for the instantprint film 232.

[0073] The lid 240 is normally closed as shown in FIG. 10. When the filmpack 230 is to be put in or taken from the a film pack compartment 203,a slide switch 206 is operated to open the lid 240.

[0074] The film pack 230 is composed of a plastic casing 231 and theinstant print films 232 (for example, 10 sheet films) stored in thecasing 231. Pressure parts 241 provided on the inner surface of the lid240 push the instant print films 232 so that the film in the front is atan exposure opening 231A of the casing 231.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 11, each instant print film 232 is composed of aphotosensitive sheet 233, an image receiving sheet 234 on the other sideof the photosensitive sheet 233, a developer pod 235 that containsdeveloper above the photosensitive sheet 233 and the image receivingsheet 234, and a trap 236 that absorbs the remainder of the developerbelow the photosensitive sheet 233 and the image receiving sheet 234.The photosensitive sheet 233 is exposed to photochemically form a latentimage, and then the photosensitive sheet 233 and the image receivingsheet 234 are put together, and they are pressurized while the developeris spread between them to form a positive. The instant print film 232 isabout half the size of a business card, and the positive formed on theinstant print film 232 is a square of 3 to 4 centimeters on a side. Thesize of the instant print film 232 is not limited to that, and thepositive does not need to be necessarily square. But, the smaller thesize of the positive is, the more preferably it is for it be square.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 10, the pair of pressure parts 241 are providedon the inner surface of the lid 240 to project toward the film pack 230.The pressure parts 241 are provided so that they are inserted into thefilm pack 230 through openings 231B of it when the lid 240 is closed.The pressure parts 241 push the instant print films 232 from behindthrough shade covers 367. This pushes the film in the front against theperiphery of the exposure opening 231A to keep the film flat.

[0077] Each pressure part 241 is composed of a projecting block 242, anextending frame 243, a holding frame 244 and a plate spring 245. Thebase (a flange) of the projecting block 242 is in the extending frame243, and the projecting block 242 is pushed to the right by the platespring 245. The base (a flange) of the extending frame 243 is in theholding frame 244.

[0078] The holding frame 244 is fixed to the lid 240, and a hole isformed in the right surface of the holding frame 244 to enable theextending frame 243 to extend from it. The flange of the extending frame243 prevents it from coming out of the holding frame 244 by being incontact with the periphery of the hole. A hole is formed in the rightsurface of the extending frame 243 to enable the projecting block 242 toproject from it. The flange of the projecting block 242 prevents it fromcoming out of the extending frame 243 by being in contact with theperiphery of the hole.

[0079] The pressure part 241 increases the total movement amount of theprojecting block 242, and it makes the holding frame 244 thin to makethe portable printer 200 smaller in size.

[0080] As shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, a film feeding part 211 for theinstant print film 232 is mainly composed of the pair of spread rollers210, a spread motor 212 and a driving mechanism 213. The drivingmechanism 213 includes a reduction gear train 214 and a claw mechanism215 shown in FIG. 14.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 14, a cutout 231C is formed below the exposureopening 231A of the casing 231, and a claw 215A is inserted into thecutout 231C. The claw 215A is driven by the claw mechanism 215 to moveupward. The claw 215A comes in contact with the bottom of the foremostfilm 232, and then pushes it up to feed its top end out of the casing231 from an exit 231D. The claw mechanism 215 converts the rotation ofthe reduction gear train 214 connected to the spread motor 212 into thevertical slide of the claw 215A.

[0082] The spread rollers 210 are a first spread roller 210A that comesin contact with the image receiving sheet 234 of the film 232 and asecond spread roller 210B that comes in contact with the photosensitivesheet 233 of the film 232. A driving gear 216 engaged with the reductiongear train 214 is provided at one end of the second spread roller 210B,and driving force is transmitted from the spread motor 212 to the secondspread roller 210B through the reduction gear train 214 and the drivinggear 216. This rotates the second spread roller 210B clockwise in FIG.14. A transmission gear 217 is provided near the driving gear 216 on thesecond spread roller 210B, and engaged with a driven gear 218 providedat one end of the first spread roller 210A. This rotates the firstspread roller 210A counterclockwise.

[0083] The first spread roller 210A is pushed against the second spreadroller 210B by a spring. This makes it possible for the spread rollers210 to appropriately press the film 232 and evenly spread the developer.

[0084] The light-emission head 220 will now be explained.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 13, the light-emission head 220 is fixed at thetop of the exposure opening 231A of the film pack 230, and a mainscanning direction M of the light-emission head 220 is perpendicular tothe feeding direction of the film 232 (a subscanning direction S).

[0086]FIG. 15 is a section of the light-emission head 220. Thelight-emission head 220 has an organic light-emitting-device array unit222 and a microlens array (a SELFOC lens group, a microlens group, orthe like) 223.

[0087] The organic light-emitting-device array unit 222 is composed oforganic light-emitting-device arrays 222R, 222G and 222B. The peakwavelength of the emission spectrum of the organic light-emitting-devicearray 222R is 600-740 nm (red), and the peak wavelength of the emissionspectrum of the organic light-emitting-device array 222G is 500-600 nm(green), and the peak wavelength of the emission spectrum of the organiclight-emitting-device array 222B is 380-500 nm (blue). Each of theorganic light-emitting-device arrays 222R, 222G and 222B has multiplelight-emitting devices corresponding to the horizontal pixels of thefilm 232 (the main scanning direction), and they are vertically arrangedalong the feeding direction of the film 232 (the subscanning direction).The brightness and time of the light emission by each light-emittingdevice are controlled according to the corresponding pixel.

[0088] The microlens array 223 prevents the lights from spreading toother pixels, and it is composed of SELFOC lenses 223R, 223G and 223B.The top and bottom SELFOC lenses 223R and 223B are inclined with respectto the middle SELFOC lens 223G so that the lights focus on one line ofthe pixels of the film 232.

[0089] In case directivity of the lights is high, the microlens array223 may be omitted. In addition, band-pass filters may be providedbetween the organic light-emitting-device array unit 222 and themicrolens array 223. The band-pass filters decreases the full width athalf maximum of the emission spectrums, and reduces spectralcolor-mixing at the exposure to raise color reproduction.

[0090] The light-emission head 220 exposes the film 232 on theline-by-line basis with the main scanning while the film 232 is fed(subscanning). The spread rollers 210 appropriately press the film 232to evenly spread the developer, and feed the film 232 out of the printer200 through the ejection slot 207.

[0091]FIG. 16 shows another light-emission head 224 that may be appliedto the printer 200.

[0092] The light-emission head 224 is mainly composed of light-emittingdiodes 225R, 225G and 225B, a light guide 226, a reflector 227, a liquidcrystal shutter 228 and a microlens array 229.

[0093] The light-emitting diodes 225R, 225G and 225B emit lights in turnwhen one line of the pixels of the film is exposed. The R, G and Blights emitted from the light-emitting diodes 225R, 225G and 225B areguided to the light guide 226 extending along the main scanningdirection, and then reflected to the liquid crystal shutter 228 by thereflector 227.

[0094] The liquid crystal shutter 228 has liquid crystal segmentscorresponding to the pixels, and transmittance of each liquid crystalsegment is controlled three times according to the R, G and B image datafor one line. The transmitted lights that have passed the liquid crystalshutter 228 are guided to the film through the microlens array 229 toform an image on the film.

[0095] In the portable printer 200 of the embodiment, the light-emissionhead is fixed, and the film is exposed on the line-by-line basis whilebeing fed. But, the light-emission head may be moved along thesubscanning direction to expose the film on the color-by-color basis.

[0096]FIG. 17 shows a printing part 250 that exposes the film on thecolor-by-color basis. The printing part 250 comprises the spread rollers210, a head driving mechanism 251 and a scan head 252. The main scanningdirection M of the scan head 252 is perpendicular to the feedingdirection of the film 232 (the subscanning direction S), and the lengthof the scan head 252 is larger than the width of the film 232. The headdriving mechanism 251 moves the scan head 252 along the subscanningdirection S with a scan motor 251A. Guide pins are provided on bothsides of the scan head 252 and coupled with guide grooves so that thescan head 252 does not become oblique.

[0097]FIG. 18 is a section of the scan head 252. The scan head 252 hasan illuminant array unit 254 perpendicularly to the subscanningdirection S, and the illuminant array unit 254 is composed of afluorescent lamp 254A, a liquid crystal shutter 254B and a shade casing254C.

[0098] The liquid crystal shutter 254B is at the inside of an opening254D of the shade casing 254C, and it has a line of liquid crystalsegments. Each liquid crystal segment corresponds to one pixel of thefilm 232, and depth and the amount of a transmitted light of each liquidcrystal segment are controlled.

[0099] Color filters 255 are provided outside the illuminant array unit254, and they are filters 255R, 255G and 255B for R, G and B exposures,respectively. A filter shifting part 256 moves the color filters 255along an arrow Y so that one of the filters 255R, 255G and 255B is onthe optical path.

[0100] R, G or B print lights that have passed the filter 255R, 255G or255B are guided to a mirror 257, a SELFOC lens array 258 and a mirror259, and they come out of the scan head 252 through an opening 253A toarrive at the film 232.

[0101] To efficiently expose the film, the R exposure is performed whilethe scan head 252 goes down, and the G exposure is performed while thescan head 252 returns. Then, after the scan head 252 is stopped, the Bexposure is performed while the film 232 is fed. This shortens theexposure time.

[0102] The spread mechanism for the film 232 will now be explained withreference to FIGS. 19 and 20.

[0103] As shown in FIG. 19, a slit 203A is formed in the top of the filmpack compartment 203, and the exposed film 232 is sent out of the filmpack compartment 203 through the slit 203A. The slit 203A is on theright (in FIG. 19) of the exit 231D of the film pack 230. A spreadcontroller 203B is formed on one side of the slit 203A, and it comes incontact with the image-receiving sheet 234 of the film 232 to controlthe spread of the developer 237 that flows from the developer pod 235 tobetween the photosensitive sheet 233 and the image-receiving sheet 234.

[0104] The tip of the spread controller 203B is round so as not todamage the image-receiving sheet 234. The bottom of the spreadcontroller 203B is tapered to guide the film 232 from the exit 231D ofthe film pack 230 to the slit 203A.

[0105] The width E of the spread controller 203B (see FIG. 14) issmaller than the width F of the image-forming surfaces of thephotosensitive sheet 233 and the image-receiving sheet 234 (see FIG.11), and thus the spread controller 203B can spread the developerwithout coming in contact with a frame sheet 232A.

[0106] The first spread roller 210A is pushed against the second spreadroller 210B by the spring 238. Thus, the spread rollers 210 canappropriately press the film 232 and evenly spread the developer.

[0107] The second spread roller 210B does not move to stabilize theeffect of the spread controller 203B. The contact state (contactposition, pressure and so on) between the film 232 and the spreadcontroller 203B and the bend state of the film 232 between the exit 231Dand the spread rollers 210 are kept constant.

[0108] As shown in FIG. 20, the first spread roller 210A is composed ofa spread part 210 a formed in the middle of the first spread roller 210Ato press the image-forming surface of the film 232 and thin parts 219formed at both ends of the spread part 210 a. The thin parts 219 arethinner than the spread part 210 a, and each thin part 219 is composedof a first thin part 219A on the middle side and a second thin part 219Bon the end side.

[0109] A diameter D of the spread part 210 a is larger than a diameterD1 of the first thin part 219A, and the diameter D2 of the second thinpart 219B. Half of the difference G1 between the diameters D and D1 isequal to the thickness of the frame sheet 232A of the film 232, and halfof the difference G2 between the diameters D2 and D1 is equal to theappropriate thickness of the spread developer.

[0110] A length H of the first spread roller 210A and the second spreadroller 210B is substantially equal to a width J of the film 232 (seeFIG. 11), and the width K of the spread part 210 a is slightly smallerthan the width F of the image-forming surfaces of the photosensitivesheet 233 and the image-receiving sheet 234. A total length L of thelength L1 of the first thin part 219A and the length L2 of the secondthin part 219B is equal to a width M of the frame sheet 232A. Inclinedparts 210 b are formed between the spread part 210 a and the first thinparts 219A.

[0111] The sides of the frame (the frame sheet 232A) of the film 232 arepinched by the second thin part 219B and the second spread roller 210B.This makes the gap between the spread part 210 a of the first spreadroller 210A and the second spread roller 210B appropriate for the spreadof the developer when the film 232 is pinched. In addition, the spreadpart 210 a comes in contact with the image-forming surface withoutcoming into contact with the frame sheet 232A, and this improves thespread effect of the developer.

[0112] Also, gaps of the thickness of the frame sheet 232A are formedbetween the first thin parts 219A and the second spread roller 210B whenthe film 232 is pinched since the first thin parts 219A is thinner thanthe second thin parts 219B. The developer flows into the gaps to firmlycome to the edges of the image-forming surface, and this keeps thequality of the entire print appropriate.

[0113] In addition, since the inclined parts 210 b are formed betweenthe spread part 210 a and the first thin parts 219A, the image-receivingsheet 234 and an image-receiving layer of the film 232 are smoothlybent. This prevents splits and the like of the image-receiving sheet 234due to stress concentration, and spreads the developer to the edges ofthe image-forming surface.

[0114] The tip of the spread controller 203B is substantially rightbelow the contact position of the spread rollers 210A and 210B. The film232 comes in contact with the spread rollers 210, the spread controller203B and the side of the exit 231D, and the film 232 is gently bent inthe S-shape. Because of the bend of the film 232 and the stabilizationof the contact of the film 232 and the spread controller 203B, thethickness of the spread developer becomes even and constant.

[0115]FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing the structure of the cellularphone 100. The cellular phone 100 comprises a transmitting and receivingcircuit 110 connected to the antenna 101, the receiver 102, an I/O port111 connected to the push buttons 104 and the transmitter 105, a framememory 112 that stores the image data for displaying the characters orthe image on the LCD 103, the push buttons 104 for designating thetelephone number, the characters and the image, an I/O port 113connected to the connector 106 for data communication, a calendar/clockpart 114, a nonvolatile memory 115 such as a flash memory and an EEPROM,a system memory 116 and a central processing unit (CPU) 117 thatcontrols the whole circuit of the cellular phone 100.

[0116] The nonvolatile memory 115 stores character data such astelephone numbers, memos and mails and image data such as received imagedata. The system memory 116 is composed of a ROM storing programs foroperating the cellular phone and a RAM that temporarily stores data atcalculations, image processings and so on.

[0117] The CPU 117 executes the programs stored in the system memory 116according to the operation of the push buttons 104. The CPU 117transmits and receives sound, characters and an image through theantenna 101 and the transmitting and receiving circuit 110, and storesthe image data in the frame memory 112 to display the communicationinformation, the image and the characters on the LCD 103. The CPU 117also communicates with the apparatus connected to the connector 106through the connector 106 and the I/O port 113.

[0118] Operations that are specific to the cellular phone 100 will beexplained later.

[0119]FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the structure of the portableprinter 200. A system controller 260 controls a head driver 263, a speedcorrection calculation part 264, a line memory 265, a motor driver 266and so on according to commands and image data inputted from theconnector 201 through and I/O port 261, speed data of the film inputtedfrom a speed sensor 262 through the I/O port 261, and so on.

[0120] An EEPROM 267 stores data on the remaining frames of the film,aspect ratios and the number of pixels, adjustment data referred to bythe system controller 260, and so on. The system memory 268 is composedof a ROM storing programs for operating the printer and a RAM thattemporarily stores calculation data, image data and so on.

[0121] The head driver 263 drives the organic light-emitting-devicearrays 222R, 222G and 222B of the light-emission head 220 in accordancewith commands from the system controller 260. The R, G and B image datafor one line is inputted from the line memory 265 to the organiclight-emitting-device arrays 222R, 222G and 222B to control the lightemission times of the light-emitting devices. The motor driver 266drives the spread motor 212 under the control of the system controller260.

[0122] The light-emission head 220 and the spread rollers 210 aresynchronously controlled by the system controller 260 through the headdriver 263, the motor driver 266 and so on. The speed sensor 262 and thespeed correction calculation part 264 prevents depth unevenness due tochanges of the feed amount of the film 232.

[0123] The speed sensor 262 is composed of a roller in contact with thefilm 232, a pulse encoder provided on the roller, and a signalprocessing circuit. The signal processing circuit determines intervalsof pulses outputted from the pulse encoder with reference clocks todetermine the feed speed of the film 232. A speed signal indicating thefeed speed is outputted to the system controller 260 through the I/Oport 261.

[0124] The speed correction calculation part 264 produces data forcontrolling light-emission timing according to the feed speed of thefilm 232, and sends it to the head driver 263 so that the desired depthcan be achieved regardless of the changes of the speed of the film 232.

[0125] The operation of the cellular phone 100 at the printing will nowbe explained with reference to a flowchart in FIG. 23.

[0126] First, the user pushes a menu button of the cellular phone 100 tochoose to print an image. Suppose the nonvolatile memory 115 of thecellular phone 100 stores the image data and the character data. Theportable printer 200 is connected to the cellular phone 100 before theprint menu is chosen or just before the printing.

[0127] After the print menu is chosen, the LCD 103 of the cellular phone100 displays an image-selection screen as shown in FIG. 2, and the userselects the image on the screen (step 10). The LCD 103 shows filenumbers, a thumbnail corresponding to the enclosed file number, and soon, and the user displays thumbnails on the LCD 103 with up/down keys ofa cross key. After finding the desired image, the user pushes a set keyto decide to print the image. Then, an enlarged image of the thumbnailis displayed on the entire LCD 103. In case the cellular phone 100 hasimage data for only one image, the above-described image selection isnot performed.

[0128] Next, it is determined whether or not there is a command forsetting the number of prints (step 12), and it is determined whether ornot there is a command for setting zooming (step 14), and it isdetermined whether or not there is a command for setting trimming (step16), and it is determined whether or not there is a command foradjusting brightness (step 18), and it is determined whether or notthere is a command for adjusting chromaticity (step 20).

[0129] At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the “1” key, the “2” key, the“3” key, the “4” key and the “5” key of ten keys are used to set thenumber of prints, the zooming, the trimming, the brightness and thechromaticity, respectively. The “6” key is used to start the printing.

[0130] If the user pushes the “1” key (yes at step 12), a screen forsetting the number of prints is displayed on the LCD 103 (FIG. 24(A)).“1” is displayed as the initial number, and the user sets the desirednumber of prints with the up/down keys of the cross key (step 22).

[0131] If the user pushes the “2” key (yes at step 14), a screen forsetting the zooming of the image is displayed on the LCD 103 (FIG.24(B)). A frame 270 with the same aspect ratio as that of the image isdisplayed. The data on the aspect ratio of the image is stored in thenonvolatile memory 115 of the cellular phone 100 or received from theportable printer 200. The area of the image displayed on the LCD 103 isshown by oblique lines.

[0132] The largest frame 270 is displayed as the initial frame, and theuser changes the size of the frame 270 with the up/down keys of thecross key to set the zooming (step 24). The area within the frame 270will be printed as the image.

[0133] If the user pushes the “3” key (yes at step 16), a screen forsetting the trimming of the image is displayed on the LCD 103 (FIG.24(C)). A frame 270 is displayed as the initial frame in the center{circle over (1)} of the image to show the print area (its size dependson the zooming), and the user moves it, for example, to the upper right{circle over (2)} with the up/down keys and left/right keys of the crosskey to set the trimming (step 26). The frame 270 is not necessarilydisplayed, but the depth of the print area may be different from that ofthe other area, and only the print area may be colored.

[0134] If the user pushes the “4” key (yes at step 18), a screen foradjusting the brightness of the image is displayed on the LCD 103 (FIG.24(D)). The user moves a cursor 271 with the left/right keys of thecross key to set the brightness (step 28).

[0135] If the user pushes the “5” key (yes at step 20), a screen foradjusting the chromaticity of the image is displayed on the LCD 103(FIG. 24(E)). The user chooses to adjust hue or depth with the up/downkeys of the cross key. The screen in FIG. 24(E) shows that the user haschosen to adjust the hue. The user moves a cursor 272 or 273 with theleft/right keys of the cross key to set the chromaticity (step 30).

[0136] The above settings are performed as need arises.

[0137] After that, it is determined whether or not there is a commandfor printing (step 32). If the user pushes the “6” key, the image dataof the selected image is outputted to the portable printer 200 (step34). If anything was set, commands indicating the settings are outputtedwith the image data. The commands indicating the zooming and thetrimming are not necessarily outputted. In this case, image data foronly the print area of the image is abstracted, the image is resized,and the image data for the resized image is outputted. The printer doesnot have to trim the image, and only the needed data is outputted toshorten the communication time. Likewise, the commands indicating thebrightness and the chromaticity are not necessarily outputted. In thiscase, image data of the corrected image is outputted.

[0138] As shown in FIGS. 24(B) and 24(C), though the aspect ratio of theimage (the area shown by the oblique lines) displayed on the LCD 103 ofthe cellular phone 100 is different from that of the image to be printed(the frames 270), the desired print can be produced since the print areais shown and the image can be trimmed.

[0139] The LCD 103 may display the image with the same aspect ratio asthat of the image to be printed according to the data received from theprinter 200.

[0140] Then, the cellular phone 100 sends the printer 200 not the imagedata (stored in the frame memory 112) for the display of the LCD 103 butthe image data with the highest resolution stored in the nonvolatilememory 115. In case the resolution of the image data is higher than thatof the image to be printed, the image data is resized to the resolutionof the image to be printed before the image data is outputted. In thiscase, only the needed data is transmitted, and the printer 200 does nothave to resize the image data. The resolution of the image to be printedis received from the printer 200.

[0141] In the embodiment, the printer 200 does not have any buttons anddisplays to make it simple and inexpensive. But, it may have pushbuttons and a simple display for showing the remaining frames of thefilm.

[0142] The operation of the cellular phone 100 when the image andcharacters are printed will now be explained with reference to aflowchart in FIG. 25.

[0143] First, the user pushes the menu button of the cellular phone 100to choose to print the image, and selects the image in the same way asthat at step 10 in FIG. 23 (step 40).

[0144] If the selected image is an attachment to a received e-mail, theimage and the characters of the mail are displayed on the LCD 103 of thecellular phone 100.

[0145]FIG. 26(A) shows the LCD 103 displaying the image and thecharacters. The screen is divided into an image display part 103Adisplaying the image and a character display part 103B displaying thecharacters.

[0146] Then, the desired characters to be printed are selected (step42). The characters are scrolled on the character display part 103B tofind the desired characters, and they are designated.

[0147] Next, the position where the characters are to be printed isdesignated on the image display part 103A (step 44). The user selectsone of the bottom {circle over (1)}, the top {circle over (2)}, the leftside {circle over (3)} and the right side {circle over (4)} of the imagewith the cross key.

[0148] After that, it is determined whether or not there is the commandfor printing the image (step 46). If yes, it is determined whether ornot the characters have been selected to be printed (step 48). If yes,the cellular phone 100 produces image data of the image on which thecharacters are superimposed, and outputs the produced data to theprinter 200 (step 50). The printer 200 prints the image with thecharacters on the film 232 as shown in FIG. 26(B) according to the data.

[0149] If no at step 48, the image data of only the image is outputted(step 52).

[0150] The cellular phone 100 produces image data in the embodiment.But, the cellular phone 100 may output the image data, the characterdata and the data on the print position of the characters to the printer200, which produces the image data of the image with the characters.

[0151] In addition, only the character data may be outputted to printonly the characters. Also, the image and the characters are notnecessarily displayed on the LCD 103, and they may be displayedseparately as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Moreover, they are not necessarilyreceived from other apparatuses, and they may be produced by a camerafunction and a character input function of the cellular phone.Furthermore, if a memory card can be detached from the cellular phone,the image data and the character data may be stored in the memory cardto be obtained by the cellular phone.

[0152] Since the portable printer is an optical printer using theinstant print film as the print medium, it does not need heat energylike a thermal printer. Thus, the printer can work on two batteries orso to save electricity, and therefore it is suited to be carried.

[0153] A portable printer that optically prints a screen displayed on anLCD of a cellular phone will now be explained.

[0154]FIGS. 27 and 28 are appearance views of the cellular phone 400 andthe portable printer 500, respectively. FIG. 29 shows the state in whichthe LCD 421 of the cellular phone 400 is inserted in the portableprinter 500.

[0155] As shown in FIG. 27, the cellular phone 400 is composed of a body410 and a cover 420 jointed with each other through a hinge. The body410 has a black-and-white LCD 411 that displays the communicationinformation and the characters, and the cover 420 has the colorlight-transmission LCD 421 that displays the image and push buttons 422.

[0156] Four swells 423 are formed on the top of the cover 420 to guidethe cover 420 into the printer 500, and a pin 424 and a notch 425 areformed on the front end and the side of the cover 420, respectively, toposition the cover 420 in the printer 500.

[0157] As shown in FIG. 28, the portable printer 500 is composed of anLCD holding part 510 and an optical print part 530, and they areconnected to each other through a bellows 540 and links 546 as shown inFIG. 29 so that they can get closer to and farther from each other. Alock 511 is provided on the side of the LCD holding 5 10 to position thecover 420 by coupling with the notch 425.

[0158]FIGS. 30 and 31 are sections showing states in which the LCD 421of the cellular phone 400 is inserted in the portable printer 500. Thebellows 540 is collapsed as shown in FIG. 30 when the printer 500 isbeing carried, and it is extended as shown in FIG. 31 at the printing.

[0159] As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, a storage part 514 for the cover 420with the LCD 421 is formed in a space enclosed by a casing 512 and aninner wall 513, and an electronic flash unit 520 and a battery 524 areprovided in the space.

[0160] A mouth 515 for the cover 420 with the LCD 421 is formed in thecasing 512, and a shade cover 516 is provided at the mouth 515 andpushed in such a direction as to close.

[0161] A plate spring 517 is provided at the bottom of the storage part514 to push up the cover 420 with the LCD 421, and guide rails 513A areformed on the bottom of the inner wall 513 to guide the swells 423 onthe cover 420. This precisely positions the LCD 421 at a shootingopening 513B in the inner wall 513 when the cover 420 is inserted in thestorage part 514.

[0162] The electronic flash unit 520 is composed of an electronic flash521 that emits a light to the storage part 514, a main capacitor 522 andan electronic flash controlling circuit (not shown).

[0163] The LCD 421 comprises a protect cover 426, a light-transmissionliquid crystal panel 427, a reflecting plate 428 and an incident window429 through which the light enters the LCD 421. The light emitted fromthe electronic flash 521 comes to the bottom of the liquid crystal panel427 through the incident window 429 and the reflecting plate 428 toilluminate the liquid crystal panel 427. As shown in FIGS. 32(A) and32(B), the ratio of an area in a reflecting surface 428A to the otherarea becomes higher from the left end to the right end of the reflectingplate 428. This evenly illuminates the whole liquid crystal panel 427.An ND filter in which the depth becomes lower from the left end to theright end may be attached to the bottom of the liquid crystal panel 427instead of the reflecting plate 428.

[0164] A film pack chamber 533 is provided in a space enclosed by acasing 531 and an inner wall 532, and spread rollers 534 are provided inthe space. A space denoted by reference numeral 535 contains a drivingdevice for the spread rollers 534 and a claw mechanism, a controllingcircuit, a battery and so on.

[0165] An ejecting slot 531A from which the instant print film 232 isejected is formed in the casing 531, and a lid 536 that is opened whenthe film pack 230 is to be put in or taken from the printer 500. Twopressure parts 537 are provided on the inner surface of the lid 536 topress the film 232. An exposure opening 532A is formed in the inner wall532 to expose the film 232.

[0166] As shown in FIG. 31, a lens part 541 is arranged in the center ofthe bellows 540. The lens part 541 is composed of a taking lens 542, ashutter 543, a support frame 544 that supports the taking lens 542 andthe shutter 543, and a support plate 545 that supports the support frame544 at the center of the bellows 540.

[0167] When the screen of the LCD 421 of the cellular phone 400 is to beoptically printed on the film 232 by the printer 500, the cover 420 ofthe cellular phone 400 is inserted in the LCD holding part 510 of theprinter 500, and the bellows 540 is extended. This positions the LCD 421in the LCD holding part 510 and the film 232 at the exposure opening532A of the optical print part 530 with respect to the lens part 541.Then, the electronic flash 521 emits the light while the shutter 543 isbeing controlled, and this optically prints the screen of the LCD 421 onthe film 232.

[0168] After that, a feed part including the spread rollers 534 isdriven to spread the developer in the film 232, and then the printedfilm 232 is ejected from the ejecting slot 531A.

[0169] This printer 500 does not need a light-emission head, acontrolling device for driving the light-emission head, and so on tomake less expensive than the printer 200, and it is suited to be carriedsince it can be collapsed.

[0170] The LCD 421 of the cellular phone 400 is a light-transmissionLCD, but it may be a reflective LCD.

[0171]FIG. 33 is a section of a portable printer 550 that prints thescreen of the reflective LCD 430. The same members as those in FIG. 31are denoted by the same numerals, and they will not be explained again.

[0172] Only the electronic flash 521 among the electronic flash 521, themain capacitor 522 and the electronic flash controlling circuit isarranged on the support 544. Thus, the reflective LCD 430 can beilluminated from above.

[0173] In the embodiment, the light-transmission LCD or the reflectiveLCD that saves electricity is used. But, a display in which organiclight-emitting devices are two-dimensionally arranged may be used. Inthis case, a light source is not needed since the light-emitting devicesemit lights.

[0174] The exposure time of the shutter 543 is not necessarilycontrolled, and a light-emission time of the electronic flash 521, alight-emitting diode or the like may be controlled. In addition, thoughthe shutter 543 for the shooting also works as a shade for the film 232,the shade cover 516 at the mouth 515 is effective.

[0175] As explained above, according to the present invention, theprinter prints the image of the image data received by the portablecommunication terminal such as the cellular phone. The display of theportable communication terminal also works as the display for displayingthe print information, and the control device of the portablecommunication terminal also works as the control device for inputtingthe print information. Thus, the printer does not need a display fordisplaying the print information and a control device for inputting theprint information. This makes the printer smaller in size and lessexpensive. Also, this makes the operation easy since only the controldevice of the portable communication terminal is controlled.

[0176] It should be understood, however, that there is no intention tolimit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on thecontrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternateconstructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing method in which a portablecommunication terminal is connected to a printer, and image data of animage stored in the portable communication terminal is outputted to theprinter, which prints the image, wherein: a displaying device of theportable communication terminal displays the image; and the displayingdevice displays print information for printing the image to also work asa displaying device of the printer when the print information isinputted.
 2. The printing method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein theimage data is obtained from another apparatus or obtained by a camerafunction of the portable communication terminal.
 3. The printing methodas set forth in claim 1 , wherein a control device of the portablecommunication terminal also works as a control device for inputting theprint information.
 4. The printing method as set forth in claim 1 ,wherein the image data stored in the portable communication terminal andthe print information inputted by the control device are outputted tothe printer.
 5. The printing method as set forth in claim 1 , whereinthe print information includes at least one of the number of prints,zooming information, trimming information, brightness information,chromaticity information and print start.
 6. A portable communicationterminal, comprising: a communicating device that transmits and receivesimage data of an image; a storage device that temporarily stores theimage data received by the communicating device; a displaying devicethat displays the image; a display controlling device that displaysprint information for printing the image on the displaying device; afirst connecting device that is connected to a printer; and anoutputting device that outputs the image data to the printer through thefirst connecting device.
 7. The portable communication terminal as setforth in claim 6 , further comprising a control device that can inputthe print information; wherein the display controlling device displaysprint information on the displaying device according to the operation ofthe control device.
 8. The portable communication terminal as set forthin claim 6 , wherein the outputting device outputs the image data storedin the storage device and the print information.
 9. A portable printer,comprising: a second connecting device that is connected to the firstconnecting device as set forth in claim 6 ; and a printing device thatprints the image on a print medium according to the image data and theprint image outputted from the outputting device of the portablecommunication terminal through the first connecting device and thesecond connecting device.
 10. The portable printer as set forth in claim9 , wherein: the print medium is an instant print film; and the printingdevice comprises a light-emission head that exposes the instant printfilm according to the print information and a spread device that spreadsdeveloper in the instant print film exposed by the light-emission head.